Eagles, Kolb look to build on first pre-season win
No more hiding behind Donavan McNabb. Quarterback Kevin Kolb finally got his chance to show off some of that swagger that has landed him the starting gig in Philadelphia, when the new-look Eagles opened the pre-season with a 28-27 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. Now, they will turn their attention to the Cincinnati Bengals and Terrell Owens.
Kolb will get the start against the Bengals and Mike Vick is scheduled to take over at some point in the second quarter. Kolb, entering his fourth season in the NFL, turned in a 6-for-11, 95-yard performance in his first start as the team’s official number one quarterback. Vick went 11-for-17 for 119 yards and ran for 50 yards, but also threw an interception.
Kolb is blessed with talent at the receiving position, which should ease his transition from backup to starter. He has DeSean Jackson on one side and Jeremy Maclin on the other. Kolb can also rely on tight end Brent Celek.
“We know we're talented,'' Kolb said. “We know there's talent on the field all over the place. We just have to execute. We're doing our own thing. We don't need to force anything. We're a young bunch. We're excited about the way we started things today and we just need to keep moving forward next week.''
Although Kolb has huge shoes to fill with the departure of McNabb, who led the Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance during his 11 seasons, he understands that this is now his team and that his teammates will rally behind him.
“We’re all in this thing together and we’re looking forward to being here for a long time and making it work,’’ said Kolb.
Bengals’ receiver Owens will play against his former team and he will be accompanied by quarterback Carson Palmer, receiver Chad Johnson, running-back Cedric Benson and rookie Jermaine Gresham.
The Bengals will alternate their punt returners starting with Quan Cosby, Adam Jones and Jordan Shipley. Last week Cosby had a 48-yard return while Jones added 28 yards and Shipley returned one for 21 yards.
Kolb is not nervous heading into this pre-season match and does have experience in the regular season haven played early last season, after a McNabb went down with an injury for a two-game stretch. Kolb started Weeks 2-3 and finished 1-1 losing to the Saints and winning against the Chiefs. Kolb won’t mind playing the Chiefs during the pre-season, as he torched them last season throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns.
“There’s a pretty good feeling there that he’s going to handle everything with class, with toughness, with character, and he’s going to motor through any adversity this football team faces,’’ said offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. “It gets hard now. It gets hard on the very best. It is a hard thing. But we’ve got great confidence that he’ll motor through it.”
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